Maryann Plunkett is an American actress and singer.
Plunkett made her Broadway debut playing Sister Agnes in Agnes of God. In 1987, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Smith in Me and My Girl."'Me and My Girl' Broadway" Playbill, accessed February 27, 2016. In 2024, she received her second Tony Award nomination for her leading role in the musical adaptation of The Notebook."Tony Nominations" Variety, accessed April 29, 2024. In addition, she has made appearances in various films and series such as Little Women, Manifest, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and Dr. Death.
Career Plunkett graduated from the University of New Hampshire, and was a founding member of Portland Stage repertory company in Maine.Kilian, Michael. "Stage-struck", Chicago Tribune, March 21, 1993. She appeared on Broadway as Bernadette Peters's replacement in the role of Dot in Sunday in the Park with George in 1985."'Sunday in the Park with George' Replacement Cast", Playbill.com, accessed February 27, 2016. In 1987, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Smith in Me and My Girl.
She appeared in the 1991 Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, in which she played Elizabeth Proctor opposite Martin Sheen as John Proctor, in an all-star cast including Michael York and Fritz Weaver."'The Crucible' Broadway", Playbill.com; accessed February 27, 2016. She was part of the Tony Randall's National Actors Theatre company, and performed in their production of Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw in 1993 on Broadway.Gussow, Mel. "Review/Theater; Getting to Know a Joan Who Is Saintly, Shavian And Just a Bit Unlikable", New York Times, February 1, 1993. She performed in the National Actors Theatre productions of A Little Hotel on the Side by Georges Feydeau and Maurice Desvallières on Broadway in 1992,A Little Hotel on the Side, ibdb.com; accessed February 27, 2016. and in The Seagull by Anton Chekov in 1992.The Seagull, ibdb.com; accessed February 27, 2016.
Plunkett appeared in the television movies The Littlest Victims and Breaking the Silence, and in feature films including Claire Dolan and The Company Men. She guest-starred on episodes of Matlock, L.A. Law, Murder She Wrote, Miami Vice, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Law & Order.
She and her husband, actor Jay O. Sanders, appeared together in all four of Richard Nelson's The Apple Family Plays: That Hopey Changey Thing, Sweet and Sad, Sorry, and Regular Singing. They premiered at the Off-Broadway The Public Theater in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 respectively.Miller, J. Michael. "Interview" theactorscenter.org, January 22, 2013Sorry lortel.org, accessed February 27, 2016
Plunkett was nominated for the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her performance as Barbara Apple in Sorry. Sweet and Sad won the 2012 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance and the 2012 Obie Award for Ensemble Performance.Sweet and Sad lortel.org, accessed February 27, 2016 The Apple Family Plays played in repertory at The Public Theater from October 22, 2013, to December 15, 2013.Hetrick, Adam. "Richard Nelson's Four-Play Series, 'The Apple Family Plays', Begins in Repertory at the Public Oct. 22", Playbill, October 22, 2013.
Plunkett and Sanders appeared in all three productions of Richard Nelson's second play cycle, The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, which premiered at The Public Theater. Plunkett portrayed Mary Gabriel and Sanders portrayed George Gabriel, her brother-in-law. The first play, Hungry, premiered in March 2016.Clement, Olivia. "The Public Announces Complete Casting For Richard Nelson Election Trilogy" Playbill, December 16, 2015"Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play One: Hungry" lortel.org, accessed February 27, 2016Rickwald, Bethany. "In Rehearsal for Richard Nelson's 'Hungry' at the Public" theatermania.com, February 18, 2016 The second play, What Did You Expect?, ran from September 10, 2016, to October 9, 2016.Clement, Olivia. Richard Nelson Returns to The Public Tonight With Part Two of His Election Trilogy" Playbill, September 10, 2016Gordon, David. "Review. 'What Did You Expect?'" TheaterMania.com, September 19, 2016 The third and final play, Women of a Certain Age, opened on election night, November 8, 2016, and ran through December 4, 2016.Clement, Olivia. "Public Theater Opens Third and Final Play of 'The Gabriels' Tonight" Playbill, November 8, 2016
In 2024, she won an Obie Award for her performance as Ella in the Off-Broadway play Deep Blue Sound by Abe Koogler.
Personal life She and Jay O. Sanders were married in 1991. They met while acting on the television series A Man Called Hawk. They have a son, Jamie.Spaner, Whitney. "How Jay O. Sanders and Maryann Plunkett Became Co-Stars In Life and Onstage" Playbill, February 27, 2016
Work Stage productions +YearProductionRoleNotes1982Agnes of GodSister AgnesBroadway replacement & US national tour1985Sunday in the Park with GeorgeDot & MarieBroadway replacement1986Me and My GirlSally SmithBroadway, Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical1991The CrucibleElizabeth ProctorBroadway revival1992A Little Hotel on the SideMarcelle PaillardinBroadway revival1992The Master BuilderKaja FosliBroadway revival1992The Seagull MashaBroadway revival1993Saint JoanJoanBroadway revival2007The Autumn GardenRose GriggsWilliamstown Theatre Festival2008A Man for All SeasonsAlice MoreBroadway revival2010That Hopey Changey ThingBarbara AppleAs part of The Apple Family Plays, world premiere, The Public Theater2011Sweet and SadBarbara AppleAs part of The Apple Family Plays, world premiere, The Public Theater, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble and Obie Award for Ensemble Performance 2012SorryBarbara AppleAs part of The Apple Family Plays, world premiere, The Public Theater, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play nomination2013Regular SingingBarbara AppleAs part of The Apple Family Plays, world premiere, The Public Theater2016The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family Mary GabrielWorld premiere, The Public Theater2019Juno and the PaycockJuno BoyleAs part of The O'Casey Cycle, Irish Repertory Theatre2019The Plough and the StarsBessie BurgessAs part of The O'Casey Cycle, Irish Repertory Theatre2022The NotebookOlder Allison "Allie" Calhoun (née Nelson)World premiere, Chicago Shakespeare Theater2023Deep Blue SoundEllaWorld premiere, Clubbed Thumb, Obie Award for Performance2024The NotebookOlder Allison "Allie" Calhoun (née Nelson)Broadway, Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination2025 Deep Blue SoundEllaThe Public Theater2026The Loved OnesNellIrish Repertory Theatre
Filmography +YearProductionRoleNotes1989The Littlest Victims BarbaraTV MovieThe Littlest Victims hollywood.com, accessed February 27, 20161991Star Trek: The Next GenerationLt. Cmdr. Susanna Leijten Episode: Identity Crisis1991Deceptions: A Mother's SecretDonna McKenzie1992Deceptions: A Mother's SecretEliza BeckerTV MovieBreaking the Silence tcm.com, accessed February 27, 20161997Fools Rush InHeliport Mother1998Claire DolanMary EganClaire Dolan tcm.com, accessed February 27, 20162000Center StageMrs. Sawyer2005The Squid and the WhaleMs. Lemon2005Brooklyn LobsterKathy Mulcahey (uncredited)2006The Night ListenerAlice - Female Realtor2009Peter and VandyMom2010The Company MenLorna2010Blue ValentineGlenda2010The Good WifePamela Pomeroy Episode: Heart2012FairhavenMaddy2013House of CardsEvelyn BaxterSeason 1 only2015True StoryMaureen Duffy2015The Family Fang Camille Fang2016Youth in OregonMaryann2019A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Joanne Rogers2019Little Women Mrs. Kirke2019ManifestPriscilla Landon2021Dr. DeathMadeline Beyer2022Showing UpJeanTBAYou Haunt MeEileenShort film
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1987 Tony Awards Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Me and My Girl Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Musical 1993 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Actress in a Play Saint Joan 2012 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Ensemble Sweet and Sad Obie Awards Ensemble Performance 2013 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play Sorry 2014New York Drama Critics' Circle AwardsSpecial Citation 2017 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play Women of a Certain Age 2018 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical The Lucky Ones 2024 Obie Awards Outstanding PerformanceDeep Blue Sound Tony Awards Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical The Notebook Dorian Awards Outstanding Lead Performance in a Broadway Musical Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Award Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical New York Drama Critics' Circle AwardsSpecial Citation 2025 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Performance in a PlayDeep Blue Sound Source:
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